The Dresden Files

There was so much about The Dresden Files that appealed to me. I like noir-ish detective stuff and fantasy fiction. This show crossed them both perfectly and offered an interesting new story with every episode. So what do the execs at the Sci-Fi Channel do? They cancel it. And it's not because the rating were low either. It was because they were not reaching the correct demographic. What IS the correct demographic exactly?

The show revolves around a wizard named Harry...Dresden; a Chicago-based Private Eye. He helps out the police with their bizarre, head-scratching cases without ever revealing his powers. Armed with a hockey stick sceptre and a drumstick wand, his methods occasionally rouse The High Council, the magical governors who are always weary of Harry since he used Black Magic to kill his uncle.

It can be accused to ripping-off anything from CSI, Buffy, Charmed or even Law & Order, but I think that The Dresden Files stood well on its own two feet. The cold, wintry (often Xmasy) feel to the show and the naturalised look sits well with the supernatural element and there is a dynamic range of characters. Though my favorite has to be Bob (Hrothbert of Bainbridge), the ghost of a gentlemanly wizard cursed to live the rest of eternity inside his own skull when he's not helping Harry with his latest case. He's played by Terrance Mann, who you may remember as Johnny Steele, singing 'Power of the Night' in the original Critters movie.

I am sad that The Dresden Files never made it past a single series. But I will surely be checking out the books that they are based on in the future.

Should NEVER have been cancelled. I loved every minute.

I'm a relatively recent fan of Butcher's novels, not even having read the entire Dresden Files series yet. But it's pretty evident that the producers of the series had some hangups about the Dresden character. I can handle the Hockey-stick-as-staff and drumstick-as-blasting-stick issues, and even the major character changes, including Bob now being the ghost of a departed wizard. But it's clear that the producers want Dresden to be more of an observer than an an active wizard. I guess thaumaturgy and offensive/defensive magic make them nervous. In the novels, Dresden would frequently summon fire or wind to assist him in dealing with both human and supernatural opponents. In the series, Dresden relies upon wit and perception, hardly every dong anything that's even remotely supernatural. (OK, OK...he got himself out of jail in the last episode and placed a simulacrum in his place. But he ended up there in the first place because he didn't resort to any of the means he normally would employ.) All in all, a bit of a disappointment. Harry, after all, is primarily a wizard and should be expected to act like one. Instead, he acts more like a psychic.

Television must have it out for me. Every few months or so a new show comes on the air. I watch the first episode then i'm hooked! But the networks get together after about 12 or 13 episodes (sometimes not even that long.)and say ' ya know what? This show tries really hard, has a fun and interesting plot, and its small fan base is growing steadily. Lets cancel it and act like its all their fault.' I mean what the @#$%*!!! The Dresden Files, Journeyman, (the still unsure future of) 'Eureka'. A few others are(Heres a blast from the past for ya.) Star trek, The Twilight Zone- both of which went on to become cultural revolutions that would shape t.v. for years to come but were canceled after 3 and 5 seasons, respectively. Oh, and here's the killer for me 'FIREFLY'!!! I loved this show, and so did many others. I think its time to show those studios whose boss!!! Whose with me!?! Bring back The Dresden Files! its better than most of the @#$% they have on there now! Your friend and hero, Godfather-114

I just discovered this show on Netflix and am amazed that something so brilliant, engaging and well-written was canceled after only one season.

The characters are well-developed, the cast is believable and the storyline is engaging.

Compared to the reality drivel that has taken over television and cable this was like reading Shakespeare - engaging for those that like to have their brain cells teased a little bit instead of being "dumbed-down" by over-dressed idiots that can't act and think that behaving like a sociopathic idiot is entertainment.

I think commercial interests (e.g. paying sponsors), were put off by the fact that the good guy practices magic and wiccan symbols were displayed in a positive light (e.g. used to suppress evil energies) vs. traditional religious symbols. For the record my religious affiliation is Christian and I am not offended.

The "powers that be" made a mistake, I would pay for a second season!